The next day, Stefan actually brought me river snail rice noodles. He stood there, holding the steaming container, his brows furrowed deeply. He clearly disliked the smell. Even from a distance, I could see his nose wrinkling.
"Come and get it quickly," he said impatiently. "This thing stinks."
I shuffled forward, a mix of embarrassment and disbelief washing over me. He wasn't throwing it at me today. He was handing it to me. The gesture felt strangely personal.
"Julia, have you become addicted to getting things thrown at you? This stuff smells so bad and it's all soupy. If I threw it on you, how could you even eat it?"
I had to admit he had a point. I opened the lid, inhaling the pungent aroma. It smelled heavenly to me. I slurped the noodles, drank the broth, and devoured every bite. Stefan watched, pinching his nose, a mix of disgust and amusement on his face.
"Do you need something else?" I asked, wiping my mouth.
He rubbed his neck. "From now on, come find me at meal times. Eat with me."
"Just you?" I asked, wide-eyed.
"Of course."
I shook my head. "No, you should just throw food at me. Otherwise, it won't feel right."
Stefan laughed. "You're pretending not to know me after eating?"
I shrunk my head. "Eating together feels… intimate."
He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
I counted on my fingers: "People who eat together are friends or couples. We aren't friends, so it might look like we're dating. And relationships start from countless meals together. Also… it's not proper for a boy and girl to be alone."
Stefan's laughter surprised me. "I'm bullying you, can't you see?"
I shook my head.
"I remember you said Molly was fat," he said slowly.
"I didn't! I envied her figure," I protested.
Stefan's grin was predatory. "Whether you said it or not, she stopped eating because of you. If you get fatter than her, she won't feel bad anymore."
Ah. So it was all for Molly's sake. My shame turned into relief—no more hunger for me.
"All right," I agreed.
He saved his contact on my phone. "I'll be waiting for you at meal times, little glutton."